DUFFERIN, Lord, Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava [1826 - 1902] & HOWE, Joseph [1804-1873] & AIKINS, J.C. (James Cox) [1823-1904] & BERNARD, Hewitt (1825-1893)
Canada Land Grant to Great Western Railway Company signed by Dufferin, Howe, Aikins and Bernard.Ottawa Government of Canada 1873 21-3/4 x 16-7/8 inches, was folded now flat, typed and handwritten manuscript and transfer document with docketing information handwritten on verso. Faded seal, agetoned, some spotting, and a coupe of paper tears professionally repaired and small holes, otherwise very good condition. Some content and detail...Great Western Railway Company [Town of Cayuga in the County of Hallimand] are the assignees of John Robert Martin, the assignee of George Sackville Cotter the Younger , who as the original purchaser…forty five dollars…one acre more or less…lots number sixteen on the south side of Indian Street, fifteen and Sixteen on the North side of Mill Street in the aforesaid Town of Cayuga and in at part thereof lying on the eat side of the Grand River…January 31, 1874 An important document relative to the four government people who signed this 1874 Land Grant for Great Western Railway Company. Signed by H. Beauard, J.C. Aitkins, Joseph Howe and Lord Dufferin.Lord Dufferin, (1826-1902) In 1872 became Canada's third Governor General of Canada in 1872. His six-year tenure (1872- 1878) was a period of rapid change in Canadian history. During his term, Prince Edward Island was admitted to Confederation, and several well-known Canadian institutions, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Royal Military College of Canada, and the Intercolonial Railway, were established. He was at ease speaking with a wide variety of people, both in English and French, and became known for his charm and hospitality. He visited every Canadian province, and was the first Governor General to visit Manitoba. In 1873, the Pacific scandal arose when the Conservative government of John A. Macdonald was accused by the Liberal opposition of financial impropriety in relation to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Dufferin prorogued parliament, and established an enquiry which found against the Government, and Macdonald fell from power.In 1873 Dufferin established the Governor General's Academic Medals for superior academic achievement by Canadian students. These medals are the most prestigious that school students can be awarded, and several sporting prizes, including the Governor General's Match for shooting, and the Governor General's Curling Trophy. In 1873 he also signed this Land Grant document.Joseph Howe (1804-1873) He a leading proponent of representative government, Joseph Howe. He was born at Halifax in 1804 lived long enough to see Nova Scotia enter Confederation, a transition which he bitterly, but futilely, opposed. He was a newspaperman and a politician. Considered by many to be the greatest Nova Scotian. Nova Scotia had become the first colony to achieve responsible government, and Howe boasted it had been done without "a blow struck or a pane of glass broken." 1869 he entered the dominion cabinet as president of the council. He signed this 1873 (the year he died) document as Secretary of State for the Provinces and Superintendent General of Indian Affairs from 1869 to 1873.Hewitt Bernard (1825-1893) Born in Jamaica, Bernard immigrated to Canada and settled in Barrie, where in 1856 he established a law practice. He was chief clerk, 1858-66, in the office of the attorney-general for Canada West, John A. MacDonald, and later became his brother-in-law (Susan Agnes MacDonald [née Bernard]). Bernard accompanied MacDonald to the Charlottetown Conference (1864) and was the secretary of the Quebec (1864) and London (1866-67) Conferences, at which the groundwork was laid for Confederation. A Lieutenant-Colonel in the militia, he served as aide-de-camp to two governors-general, Viscount Monck and Baron Stanley of Preston. He also served as deputy minister of justice, 1868-76. Bernard died at Montreal in 1893 and is buried at Ottawa. James Cox Aitkins (1823-1904) He born in Toronto becoming a prominent Canadian politician in the 19th century. He was the Secretary of State for Canada twice: from 1867-1869 and again from 1878-1880 in the government of Sir John A. Macdonald. In 1882 he became the fourth Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba and Keewatin, a term which expired in 1888. Very Good
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